The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has appointed Alison Willis, CEO of Easyfairs UK & Global, as its new chair. The decision was confirmed at the AEO Board meeting, with Andrew Williams, executive vice president at Informa, named vice chair.
Outgoing chair Rachel Swann, chief operating officer of the energy division at dmg events, will remain on the committee as past chair until September 2026. Matthew Butler, group managing director of CloserStill Media, has stepped down from the executive committee as outgoing past chair.
Willis’s focus for the year ahead will be member engagement, including developing a revised value proposition for AEO members. She will work with the Board and membership to ensure the association’s activities continue to reflect members’ needs.
As part of its regular Board rotation, Carina Bauer of IMEX Group, Ruth Carter of CIBSE and Sophie Walker of Immediate Live have stepped down. They are replaced by Simon Albert of Messe Frankfurt UK, Emma Barrett of Broadway Events and Tim Willoughby of Mark Allen Group. The new members were formally appointed at AEO’s AGM in Manchester on 3 September 2025.
The Board will oversee AEO’s direction and ensure it continues to meet the needs of its members and the wider events industry.
Willis said, “I’m truly honoured to take on the role of AEO chair at such an exciting time for our sector. There’s so much energy and ambition among our members, and my priority is to harness that – working together to make the AEO experience even more rewarding, relevant, and inspiring. Over the coming year, I’ll be connecting directly with members to co-create a value proposition that supports their ambitions and reflects the best of our industry. Together with Andrew, Rachel, Anna, and the Board, I can’t wait to build on our successes and help shape a bright future for event organisers across the UK.”
